…As Umuolu Community Yearns for Landing Jetty
By Our Reporter
In Nigeria’s political landscape, it is uncommon for any incumbent Governor to spend time and resources of his state carrying on with uncompleted projects of his predecessor.
This has led to a plethora of abandoned projects across the country, including some of the new ones initiated by sitting administrations.
In Delta State, however, the case is different as recently expressed by the immediate past Governor of the state, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, during the inauguration of 15 different Committees of the Ndokwa Neku Union (NNU) by the Amechi Asugwuni – led new executive of the apex sociocultural organization.
Okowa profusely appreciated his successor, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, for completing some of the projects inherited from his administration, including the Asaba-Kwale-Ughelli dual carriage way and the Beneku bridge.
The entire Ndokwa people, at home and in the diaspora, also have cause to express their deep appreciation to the peoples’ Governor for the recent approval of the construction of the Aboh -Akarai road & Okili bridge and other massive construction works going on across the length and breadth of the state.
They are all in profuse appreciation for the Governor for this unprecedented approval that has brought great joy to the Ndokwa nation like never before.
This joy is at its peak for the people of Umuolu community in Ndokwa-east local government, a popular agrarian and fishing community on the coast of River Niger, just after Aboh, headquarters of Ndokwa-east, located directly opposite Obi-Ofu in Rivers State on the other side of the Niger.
An investigation by this reporter shows that the community’s source of income is mostly from cultivation of yam, cassava, plantain, palm-oil production, fishing and general maritime activities that facilitate trade, commerce and social-economic activities.
Also in the amazing discovery of this reporter, is the undisputable fact that Umuolu has the second most vibrant market along the coast line of River Niger, after Onitsha.
Across Ndokwa-East, it has the biggest market after Ashaka market, which is very old, existing even before Aboh market and Ndoni market in Rivers State, but has not grown to its full potential due to perennial flooding and lack of infrastructural development and access road.
A prominent Umuolu community patriot, and leader of Elders-in-Council and all traditional Chiefs in the community, High Chief Godwin Orgu, says one key infrastructure lacking in the area is a landing jetty, adding that in riverine areas especially, jetties can plant and germinate markets where it is non-existent, promote markets where it exists, and consolidate market growth where it is growing.
He added that what Umuolu market direly needs is a jetty to promote and consolidate its growth. According to him, the need for a jetty in Umuolu has long been overdue and has been the earnest yearnings of the community for many decades.
“The construction of the jetty will greatly boost trade, transportation, recreation, tourism and maritime activities, not only in Delta State, but also between Delta State and Rivers State, Bayelsa State and riverine communities of Anambra State”.
He named some of the towns and communities that come to Umuolu market that will benefit from the construction of the jetty in the aforementioned states to include: DELTA STATE, Akarai, Adia Obiaka, Warri-Irri, Oworubia, Onyia, Ibrede, Asaba-Ase, Okpkirika, Afia Nkwo, Iyowu, Igbuku, Onogbokor, Iyede-Ame, Umuti, Umuti-Aboh, Abalagada, Utchi, Okpai, Ashaka, Oko, Abala villages, Ozoro, Oleh and Ofagbe. RIVERS STATE: Obi-Ofu, Ndoni, Ise-Ala, Utu, Ugbaja, Ogbe-Ogene, and Utu-Echi. BAYELSA STATE: Ofoni Banya, Odi, Sagbama and Egbire. ANAMBRA STATE: Onitsha, Atani Umunakwo Osemere and Ani-Eze.
It is noteworthy that Aboh and Umuolu in Ndokwa-East, together with Ndoni across the Niger in Rivers State, are the main hubs of maritime transportation and speedboat movement in the entire region.
To buttress this point, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Delta State, with headquarters in Warri, has offices in Asaba, Aboh and Umuolu.
While Aboh and Ndoni have long had jetties, Umuolu is yet to have one. The naturally richly endowed maritime platform of the entire area is very unbalanced as it sits on a tripod, with the Umuolu leg conspicuously missing.
It is also noteworthy that the Ndokwa nation, albeit being the second largest ethnic group in Delta State, and with so many riverine communities that deserve jetties, has only one small jetty in Aboh constructed by the NDDC many years ago.
The people of Umuolu are, however, optimistic that with the evident landmark achievements of the SMART agenda of the past administration in Delta State, and the advent of the record-breaking MORE agenda of His Excellency Rt. Hon. (Elder) Sheriff Oborevwori, they are rest assured that MORE will be done by the current administration.
There is Renewed Hope that Umuolu community’s age-long yearning for a well-deserved jetty will soon be a thing of the past.
Currently, Umuolu community has a primary and secondary school, General (cottage) Hospital, Mini Grid Solar Light Project, NDDC Water Project and NDDC Solar Street Light Project.
It is remarkable and worthy of mention that the MORE agenda of His Excellency Rt. Hon. (Elder) Sheriff Oborevwori and Sir Monday Onyeme administration has no bias for ethnic, religious or party affiliations in projects execution.
Notwithstanding, Umuolu community is very proud that, like most Ndokwa communities, it is a strong enclave of Renewed Hope for MORE Movement! There is therefore double assurance that aside the above listed projects, the community will soon have the Umuolu Jetty constructed by the Delta State Government.
The positive socio-political, infrastructural and economic impact of the jetty will certainly have a reverberating effect in the Ndokwa nation as a whole.
After the epoch-making two-year anniversary celebration with the commissioning projects in Delta State on 29th May 2025, Umuolu community is very optimistic that the direly needed Umuolu Jetty will be included in the next anniversary!
In the midst of the euphoria and celebration of the approval for the construction of Aboh-Akarai road and Okili bridge, the people of Umuolu have fortuitously been presented with a bright glimmer of opportunity to resuscitate its yearning for a jetty.
This is mainly because Akarai is one of the numerous towns across four states that will immensely benefit from the construction of Umuolu Jetty, which will be a highly complementary project to the Aboh-Akarai road and Okili rridge.
The network of the jetty, road and bridge will greatly enhance movement of farm produce and goods from riverine to urban communities in the entire axis, and lead to a massive boost in trade, commerce and industry in the area, with attendant rise in internally generated revenues.
“As the saying goes, God’s time is the best. With the coming of the Rt. Hon (Elder) Sheriff Oborevwori administration, and in the unprecedented landmark approval of the Aboh-Akarai road and Okili bridge at this time, there may not have been a better time to bring to the notice of Delta State Government the need for the construction of Umuolu Jetty”, said High Chief Orgu, as well as members of DS-G3, a nascent group of Socio-political and Infrastructural Development Enthusiasts.
The road and the bridge can now be said to be inducing the safe delivery of the age-long Umuolu Jetty pregnancy! Surely, along with that of all the good people of Delta State, the history of the Ndokwa nation is being fabulously re-written by the Rt.Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori/ Sir Monday Onyeme administration!
They all appeal to the relevant Delta State Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies to prioritize the long-standing need for a jetty in Umuolu community. They also appeal to political leaders of Ndokwa extraction, ably led by His Excellency, the Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, to kindly convey their message to the Governor, saying Ndokwa nation is happy and proud to have a Governor who not only listens to the yearnings of all Deltans but also gives a helping hand.
The people commended him for the massive infrastructural development and plethora of completed projects on the scorecard of his administration within a short span of two years.
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